As so-called old-timers go, Tom Brady wasn’t too shabby last season. At age 35, as the second-oldest starting quarterback in the league behind Peyton Manning, all he did was lead the NFL’s top-rated offense, and put up one of the best statistical seasons of his illustrious career.

Can he still perform at that level at age 36 or 37 or all the way to 40, which is how old he’ll be in the final year of the contract extension he signed last week? Will he be as effective? Will he even still be playing when he hits the 40 milestone?

“It’s going to be interesting to see if he can go that long. Whether he wants to do it, and if his body will let him,” Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon told the Herald last week. “We’ve seen a big drop off in a lot of guys when they get to 36. From 36-38, right in there is the drop off. If guys can play longer than that, you’ll be able to see that right away.”

The year Brett Favre turned 40, he had arguably his best season ever. He threw 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions with the Vikings. Favre is one of maybe two dozen or so quarterbacks who have played into their 40s. Some other notables include Moon, Len Dawson, Vinny Testaverde, Doug Flutie and Sonny Jurgensen. But it’s the rare exception that you’ll find a 40-year-old operating at a level that’s not only going to be top-rate, but also going to produce a championship.